Expert talks about fatal accident

CANON CITY — The prosecution rested its case Friday in the trial of a local woman suspected of vehicular homicide and fleeing the scene of an accident that resulted in a bicyclist’s death.

Natalie D. Habig, 35, of Canon City, is charged with vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident involving death and criminally negligent homicide. She is accused of turning in front of bicyclist Kyle Keefe, 49, of Canon City, Sept. 25, 2012, as she turned right onto Leslie Lane from Field Avenue.

Keefe, who was traveling in the same direction, struck the rear of Habig’s truck and fell to the ground. He suffered massive head injuries and was pronounced dead a day later at a Colorado Springs hospital.

Colorado State Patrol Technician Tim Ortiz was the prosecution’s final witness. The accident reconstruction expert told the jury how he created animated reconstruction videos, which were then shown to the jury.

Under cross examination, Ortiz testified that his sergeant suggested Habig be charged with an additional count of criminally negligent homicide, “possibly” because reckless driving could not be proven as part of the vehicular homicide charge.

Ortiz also agreed with Layborne’s characterization that the collision was not violent and was more of a glancing blow. The trial will continue Monday.